Shaft-coupling.



; s. SEARLB. SHAFT COUPLING.

' APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1 907.

' Patented June l, 1909.

lviueu coz 7 1x33 b1 woes rm: NORRIS PETERS cm. WASHINGTON. n. c.

GEORGE SAMUEL SEARLE, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

SHAFT-COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1909.

Original application filed May 28, 1903, Serial No. 159,162. Divided and this application filed September 23, 1907 Serial No. 394,222.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SAMUEL SEARLE, of Rochester, in the county of M011 The present invention relates to shaft couplings of the type in which the abutting ends of two sections of shafting are heldin alinement by frictionally engaging jaws,

such, for instance, as shown in my atent No. 849,860, dated the 9th day of April, 1907, and this application is a division of my application No. 159,162, filed May 28, 1903, which eventuated in the aforesaid patent.

An object of the invention is to provide a construction by which a greater amount of friction is secured, so that this type of coupling may be employed in the transmission of a greater amount of power.

To these and other ends'the invention consists in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end-of the specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 represents an end view as seen from the left hand of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 represents the shell or casing in longitudinal section and the internal parts in side elevation. Fig. 3 represents an end view as seen from the right hand of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section on line at Fig. 5. Fig. 5 is a section on line bb Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section on line cc Fig. 4. Figs. 7 and 8 represent an end and a side view respectively of one of the outer jaws, and Figs. 9 and 10 represent like views of one of the inner jaws.

Referring to the drawings 1 and 2 indicate the sections of the shafting to be coupled and 3 the outer shell or casing which has oppositely tapering faces on its inner wall, in the preferred form, faces tapering inwardly from each end, while its outer surface is preferably cylindrical.

Cooperating with each tapering face of the shell is aplurality of sets of jaws, in the present instance two sets for each face, as sets A and B for one, and C and D for the other and each set preferably comprises two jaws ranged away from the ends thereof so that the means for moving them on the tapering faces will not project therefrom.

, The movement of the sets on the tapering faces of the inner wall is effected in couples,

preferably in alternate sets, one set of each couple moving on each tapering face, and to this end it is preferred to form each jaw with two bolt openings 4 and with a semicircular groove 5 running lengthwise thereof, and the inner jaws may have their corners cutaway at 6. and extend through the grooves 5 and cutaway portions 6 in the jaws between the sets Which they connect. The provision of these grooves 5 reduces the rigidity of the jaws so as to allow them to more easily conform to and grip the shaft, and the relative positions of the grooves 5 and cutaway'portions 6 in proximate sets is such that the introduction of a tool to hold the bolts or to drive the inner sets from the casing or shell is permitted.

In securing two shaft sections the casing or shell 3 is first placed about the shaft and then the inner sets are fitted so that each set engages a different shaft section and has its bolt openings lying opposite the grooves 5 or v the openings formed by the cutaway portions 6 of the other member. Bolts 7 and S are then introduced through opposite ends of the shell or casing so that the bolts 7 pass through the openings 4 in the jaws B, and the grooves 5 and cutaway portions 6 in the jaws C, while the bolts 8 extend through the openings 40f the jaws C and the grooves and cutaway portions of the jaws B. Jaws A and D are now inserted so that their bolt openings 4 receive the bolts 7 and 8 respectlvely. The sets are now connected in couples, the members of one couple being separated by a member of another couple and engaging oppositely ta cring faces, so that upon the tightening of t 1e bolts 7 and 8, or other suitable means for moving the sets, a compression of each shaft section takes place at a plurality of points.

It will be noted that the oints between the Bolts 7 and 8 connect alternate sets jaws of adjacent sets do not aline, and in this manner two bolts passing through any one jaw will engage with one end of each opposing jaw, so that it is less easy for one jaw to be drawn ahead of its mate, thereby securing an equal distribution of the compression and a proper alinement of the sha'lting- It will be noted further that the aws that engage one shaft section are movable independently of those that engage the other section so that it is possible to couple shafts which have diilerent diameters as those aws which clamp the smaller shalt will move farther inward than the other, and, il the dillerence in diameter is very great, jaws with smaller gripping laces may be provided.

I claim as my invention 1. In a shalt coupling, the combination with an outer shell having oppositely tapering faces on its inner wall, o'l a plurality of sets of jaws arranged to cooperate with each tapering lace, and means lor moving the sets in couples on the tapering laces, one set ol each couple moving on each tapering lace.

2. In a shalt coupling, the combination with an outer shell having its inner wall provided with laces tapering toward each other, of a plurality ol sets of jaws arranged to cooperate with each tapering lace, and means for moving said sets toward each other in couples, one set ol each couple moving on each tapering face to e'liect a clamping oi the shalt sections.

3. In a shalt coupling, the combination with an outer shell having its inner wall provided with laces tapering toward each other, of a plurality of sets o'l jaws arranged to cooperate with each tapering lace, and bolts connecting the sets in couples, one set of each couple moving on each lace.

4. In a shalt coupling, the combination with an outer shell having oppositely tapering laces on its inner wall, of a plurality of sets of jaws cooperating with each tapering lace, each jaw having a groove, and means connecting the sets in couples lor moving them on the tapering laces, one set ol each couple moving on each tapering lace and said means extending through the grooves in the jaws between a connected couple.

5. In a shaft coupling, a shell, a plurality of jaws arranged to cooperate with the inner wall of the shell, and connections between alternate sets to move them to cll'cct a clamping ol two shalt sections.

6. In a shalt coupling, a shell having its inner wall provided with oppositely tapering laces, a plurality ol sets ol jaws lor cooperation with said tapering laces, and connections between alternate sots lor moving them to effect a clamping o'l two shalt sections.

7. In a shalt coupling, a shcll having its inner wall provided with oppositely tapering faces, a plurality ol sets ol jaws lor cooperating with said tapering laces and means lor drawing alternate sets toward each other.

8. In a shalt coupling, the combination with a shell having its inner all providcd with two laces tapering tmvard each other, ol lour sets ol jaws, two o'l which coinieratc with each tapering lace, and means lormoving alternate sets toward each other.

S). In a shalt coupling, the combination with a shell, o'l lour sets ol jaws arrmigcd to cooperate with the inner wall ol the shell to etlect a clamping ol shalt sections, and bolts connecting alternate sets.

10. In a shalt coupling the combination with a shell having its inner wall provided with two laces tapering toward each other, ol four sets cl jaws two o'l which cooperate with each tapering lace, and bolts comm-ting alternate sets ol' the jaws.

11.. In a shalt coupling, the combination with a shell having its inner wall provided with oppositely tapering laces, ol lonr sets 01' jaws, two 01' which cooperate with each tapering lace, and means lor moving the alternate sets toward each other to cilect a clamping o'l two shalt sections.

GICOH GE AM UEI 1 SEA ll LE.

VVit-nesses:

IIERBERT WALL, FLORENCE E. l nemen. 

